Ontario teachers, including Manitoulin/Sudbury unions, rallied April 29 demanding more education funding, smaller classes & supports.
by Tom Sasvari
On May 2, a fire destroyed a Silver Water home (formerly Robinson School #1). Firefighters from two departments used 16,000 gallons of water to douse the blaze. Owner Clayton Foster was away during the incident. The Ontario Fire Marshal and OPP are investigating the total loss.
Following a Sunday shooting, Wiikwemkoong Chief and Council enacted a mandatory two-year ban for any community or non-band members involved in illegal drugs, firearms, or violence. The move aims to restore safety and prioritize mental health over criminal activity.
NEMI held a volunteer appreciation night on April 22 at the Little Current Curling Club. Mayor Al MacNevin thanked the attendees for their hard work in making the community a better place to live. Volunteers, including Legion members, enjoyed a luncheon prepared by coordinator Lisa Hallaert.
St. Joseph’s Lodge honored its volunteers, naming Gloria Hall (Excellence in Service), Tom Sasvari (Distinguished Service), and Stela Segid (Outstanding New Volunteer) as award winners. The event celebrated their impact on resident life and bid farewell to coordinator Fiona Lee.
Gore Bay recently welcomed three new physicians: Dr. Wendy Davie, Dr. Zeshan Talib, and Dr. Irfan Shahwani. Supported by the Practice Ready Ontario program and the Smith Family Foundation, the new doctors bring decades of experience to Western Manitoulin, doubling the town's medical team.
Avery Sheppard, 23, won $25,000 at a Cornell business competition for her pitch on Gore Bay’s Purvis Fish and Chips. The only solo finalist, she plans to use her US work visa to gain private equity experience before expanding her restaurant and ice cream businesses into a larger chain.
Billings councillor Vince Grogan has resigned. Since it’s too late for a by-election, Mayor Bryan Barker plans to appoint John Foster—who previously lost a seat tie-breaker by a hat draw—to fill the vacancy for the rest of the term. Council aims to resolve this by May.
Manitoulin’s deer survived a snowy winter thanks to an icy crust that let them reach food. Experts report the herd is healthy, with stable numbers and new fawns. To balance hunter success and farm protection, officials are keeping tag quotas steady at 6,100 for WMU 43B and 400 for WMU 43A.